PIMS fire: inquiry recommends removal of 10 officials

ISLAMABAD: Key recommendations from the preliminary inquiry into the PIMS neonatal ward fire have been submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to sources familiar with the report.

The inquiry committee, headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan, has recommended the immediate removal of 10 senior officials and relevant staff members, including PIMS Executive Director Dr Imran Sikandar, sources said.

The officials recommended for removal include five of the hospital’s top-ranking officers, according to the sources. The committee has held the officials responsible for negligence and dereliction of duty in connection with the tragedy, the sources said.

The report also incorporates recommendations submitted by current acting secretary Captain R Mahmood, sources added. According to the committee’s findings, PIMS was being run in an “extremely unprofessional” manner and lacked an effective administrative structure.

The committee has recommended that qualified professionals be appointed to replace the officials removed from their positions. It has also proposed establishing a formal governing board for PIMS to oversee the hospital’s administration and operations.

The report calls for regular monitoring of the hospital and the establishment of a clear administrative framework for its management, according to sources.

The recommendations follow the fire at the PIMS neonatal ward on August 26, in which 14 newborns died. Prime Minister Shehbaz had ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident to determine the causes of the fire and fix responsibility for any negligence.

The preliminary report has been submitted to the prime minister, who will decide on the proposed action against the officials and other recommendations.

The PIMS tragedy sparked strong criticism and demands for accountability in both houses of Parliament on Friday, with lawmakers calling for an independent investigation into the deaths of 14 newborns in the hospital fire.

The Senate and National Assembly suspended routine proceedings to debate the incident. Both houses unanimously passed resolutions calling for those responsible for safety lapses or negligence to be identified and face legal action.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said anyone found responsible would be held accountable. He said he considered himself responsible as health minister but urged lawmakers to wait for the findings of the official inquiry before reaching conclusions.

Opposition lawmakers questioned PIMS’ fire-safety arrangements, emergency exits and management. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman highlighted alleged discrepancies between statements by hospital officials, firefighters and the Capital Development Authority, which had previously raised concerns about the hospital’s fire-safety measures.

PTI Senator Ali Zafar called for a comprehensive probe into the fire, warning that the tragedy should not be forgotten after initial public outrage. Several lawmakers also demanded the health minister’s resignation.

The government proposed a cross-party parliamentary committee to monitor Islamabad’s public hospitals and identify systemic weaknesses.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced Rs5 million in compensation for each affected family. He said most of the infants died from smoke inhalation rather than burns and were identifiable through tags bearing their mothers’ names.